Desk-lock.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908; w. J. KENNEDY.

DESK LOOK.

APYLIOATIOF rum: APR. 3, 100a.

2 BEEETB-SEEET 1.

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PATENTBD SEPT-1, 190s.

W. J. KENNEDY. DESK LOCK.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. KENNEDY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DERBY DESKCOM- PANY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DESK-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1908.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Serial No. 424,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United. States,residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Desk-Locks,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a lock for locking roll top desks, and consistsof a mechanism actuated by one of the drawers below the desk top,preferably the middle drawer, above the leg space, which eliminates thenecessity of a lock in the roll of the top, as heretofore universallyused.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of a desk with art of the deskbroken away to show the locking mechanism, and its relation to thedifferent parts of the desk. In this form of the invention the actuatinbar is below the slide leaf. Fi 2 is an en arged section of one side oft e desk, showing the same construction as that in Fi 1. Fig. 3 is a topplan of the invention. Fig. 4 is a top plan of a section of theactuating bar in the recess 01' cam of the drawer which actuates it.Fig. 5 is a cross section of a pilaster showing the mortise throughwhich the actuating bar asses to the side of the desk. Fig. 6 is a moification of Fig. 1, in which the actuating bar is above the slide leafand in a mortise in the under side of the desk to Fig. 7 is an enlargedsection showing one sinlb of the desk having the same construction asthat of Fi 6.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the spring catch 2 is fastened by thescrews, 3, in the groove or track for the roll of the top. The woodbehind the spring catch, 2, is cut away so as to provide a space, 4, topermit the spring catch to move back. ThlS space is extended downthrough the desk top and into the pilaster to ermit a lever extension,5, of the spring catcii to play in. A groove, 6, extends from the s ace,4, in the to of the partition between t e slide leaf an the drawer belowit, and through the pilaster next to the middle drawer. In this groovethe actuatin bar, 7, is slidably located, the outer end of w ich restsagainst the lower end of the spring catch, 5, and the inner end rests ina cam mortise, 8, in the drawer, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,when the drawer is closed, being forced there by the spring pressure ofthe spring catch, 2. A mortise, 9, is cut in the end of the roll-board,over which a keeper, 1.0, is fastened. Into this keeper the bolt orhook, 11, springs when free to do so, when the roll top is closed, andsecurely locks the roll top down to the desk top. In order to unlock thetop it is only necessary to ull out the middle drawer when the cam of t1e mortise, 8, rides a ainst the end of the actuating bar, 7, and orcesthe bolt, 11, out of the keeper, 10, thereby unlocking the roll to Theinner end of the actuating bar, 7, which works in the mortise, 8, isturned at right angles to its fiat side, and rolled on the end, as shownin Fig. 4, so as to prevent wearing the mortise and the drawer sideagainst which it presses.

In Figs. 3 and 6, the actuating bar, 7, is shown in a mortise, 13, inthe underside of the desk top. This slight modification,

however, requires a slight bend, 14, of the actuating bar, 7, near itsinner end, as shown.

It will be seen that not only is this mechanism cheap and effective, butit eliminates necessity for a lock in the roll top, and that the lock inthe middle drawer to ether with the mechanism herein shown, su ces tolock it and the roll top.

While I show a locking bar on both sides of the desk, one wouldordinarily answer the purpose.

It will be noted that the latch or bolt 11 normally tends to move intolocking position and by the action of the spring it is yieldingly movedto such osition, and b the action of the drawer w en the latter 1s movedoutwards, the bolt or latch is positively moved to unlatching position,and as a result of this feature of my invention, it will be seen thatthe drawer may be fully closed and locked without first closing the rolltop, and afterwards the latter may be closed and when it reaches itsfull shut position, the latch or bolt ieldingl pressing against the edgeof the roll top w' automatically, from its normal tendency, move intolocking position when the mortise 9 comes opposite the latch or bolt.This independence of the roll top and the drawer is of importancebecause 1t is not necessary to leave the drawer unlocked or partiallyopen while top, and a latch or bolt operating means adapted to be movedby said opening and closing member and. extending horizontally therefromat the front of the desk and beneath the upper surface of the desk toptothe latchor bolt.

7 2. In a roll-top desk, the combination of a roll top, tracks for theside edges of said top, a latch or bolt situated in one of the tracks tothe roll top, yieldingly held in interlocking engagement, an opening andclosing member of the desk, and means interposed between said member andthe latch or bolt that positively moves the bolt or latch to un--locking position when said opening and closing member of the desk ismoved to an open position, said means permitting movement of said memberto closed position independently of the, position of the latch or bolt.

3. In a r0 1 top desk, the combination of a roll top, tracks engaged bythe edges thereof, a spring actuated latch or bolt situated in one ofthe-tracks and normally tending to locking position, a drawer having asurface extension, and a cam in a drawer below the desk top to actuatesaid rod.

5. In a lock for roll to desks, the combi': nation of a spring catchocatcd inthe track of the roll top-with a lever extension therefrom, akeeper on the lower end of theroll" top to cooperate with the-saidspring catch, a rod below the desk top-to actuate the'said: leverextension, and a cam in a drawer below the desk top to actuate said rod.

interlock with the track-engaging portion of nation of a spring catch,with a downward lever extension located in each ofthe two 'roll toptracks, one on the right and the 6'. In a lock for roll top desks, thecombiother on the left side, and two rods below the. desk top to actuatethe lever extensions, and? two cams in the middle drawer below the.

desk top, one on the right and the other on the left side of saiddrawer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.WILLIAM J KENNEDY- Witnesses-z. 1

GEO. MCDOUGALL, G. S. THoMPsoN.

